Tempering

The situation in the Demon Sea was ever-shifting. After studying it for a long time, Qin Sang settled on his objective. He had originally considered asking Yuan Zhu about the distribution of demon factions in the Demon Sea. Human cultivators had explored only a limited expanse, confined to the area between Tianwu Island and Dahuang Island along with the surrounding waters. Coming from the flood dragon clan, Yuan Zhu undoubtedly knew the demon race inside and out. On second thought, however, Qin Sang realized the inquiry was far too sensitive. Human and demon walked different paths. They had come together only through a twist of circumstance and forged a modest friendship. The only ones who had betrayed Yuan Zhu were the Flood Dragon King and his circle of demon kings, not the demon race as a whole. Qin Sang was going there to temper himself by hunting demons. While Yuan Zhu could not and would not stop him, neither could the dragon be expected to assist or sit by idly watching his kin slaughtered. Qin Sang chose not to speak of it at all, sparing both of them any bad blood. He boarded no vessel upon departing Dahuang Island, instead summoning his flood dragon soul flying carriage and flying toward the depths of the Demon Sea alone. Along the way, Qin Sang studied the secret art Yuan Zhu had given him. The greatest hazards in the Demon Sea were beast tides and Transformation stage great demons. Once he mastered the technique and combined it with the Heavenly Demon Transformation, he was confident that as long as he kept a reasonably low profile, he would be able to come and go freely. At first, he occasionally crossed paths with fellow cultivators. As Qin Sang pressed deeper, cultivators grew increasingly scarce until the sea became entirely the domain of demon beasts. Several years later. On a deserted island. Withered foliage blanketed the ground in a desolate sweep. Except for the occasional chirp of insects from the jungle's depths, the sprawling island was utterly silent, devoid of birdsong or bestial roars. The tall grass rustled, and a figure quietly emerged—it was Qin Sang. The Heavenly Eye Butterfly rested upon his shoulder, the heavenly eyes across its wings wide open. After scanning the deserted island for a moment, Qin Sang flicked his wrist. A ring flew out, flashing with light to release the demon beast trapped within the Primordial Concentric Rings: a golden-scaled giant python. Although Qin Sang's strength was nothing like before, capturing another spirit beast with the exceptional intelligence, natural talent, and prowess of the two-headed hou remained extremely difficult. Over the past few years, he had traveled the Demon Sea in search of a suitable beast, ultimately capturing this golden-scaled giant python. Among mid Demon Core stage beasts, the python was fairly capable, yet its intellect fell far short of the two-headed hou. Unable to hold its own in serious battle, its greatest value lay in serving as bait. Its savage nature remained unbroken. The moment it was freed from the Primordial Concentric Rings, it reared its upper body, its vertical pupils glaring coldly and directly at Qin Sang. It was easy to imagine that should Qin Sang's strength ever falter and leave him unable to suppress it, the python would turn on its master without a second thought. "Go!" Qin Sang pointed forward, his voice cracking like spring thunder to intimidate the python. A ferocious glint flickered in the serpent's eyes, full of reluctance. Yet bound by the magic treasure, it had no choice but to submit, slithering silently toward the island's interior. Before long. A tiger's roar shattered the stillness ahead like a clap of thunder. The islet trembled beneath the shockwave; dry leaves rustled to the ground, and tall grass flattened against the gale. Rising alongside it was the golden-scaled python's desperate hiss. Qin Sang had already stalked forward. Standing atop an ancient tree, he peered through the swirling dust ahead to see the two beasts locked in combat. The golden-scaled python was distinctly outmatched. Its adversary was a tiger demon. "Late Demon Core stage!" Qin Sang smiled with satisfaction. "This tiger demon must be the local overlord!" Deep in the Demon Sea, without sea charts to guide him, Qin Sang had to hunt down beasts on his own. He had scoured these waters for a long time before finally picking up traces that led him to this tiger demon's lair. The python was rapidly losing ground, showing signs of defeat. Qin Sang hesitated no longer. His silhouette blurred as he charged into the fray. Pointing two joined fingers at the tiger demon, his true essence surged, and the ebony sword manifested. The sword hummed vibrantly. Dazzling sword radiance condensed into a giant blade that cleaved straight down toward the tiger demon's skull! "Roar!" Recognizing Qin Sang as the primary threat, the tiger demon swiped its paw with bone-crushing force, batting the python away. Opening its massive jaws, a plume of demonic mist erupted. Within the chaotic haze, its form shifted unpredictably, as if seeking to evade the incoming strike. Its muscular frame coiled with explosive violence, preparing to vault across the distance and tear into Qin Sang's true body. It was truly worthy of being a regional overlord, brimming with ferocity. A rank stench washed over him. Qin Sang, however, showed not the slightest panic, easily anticipating the demon's movements. With calm composure, he tapped lightly toward the ebony sword, and the sword wheel resurfaced! The wheel was now far more solid and brilliant than before. While tempering himself in combat, Qin Sang had reflected upon what he had absorbed from the Sword Path. Though he had not yet grasped the profound mysteries of sword momentum, he felt he had found a direction and continued refining the sword wheel. With both the spiritual sword and the technique enhanced, its power was nothing like what it once had been. Like a blazing sun illuminating the desolate island, it spun furiously toward the tiger demon to shred it to pieces. In an instant, blood sprayed into the air. Even late Core Formation cultivators would find such a great demon a dreadful headache to face and would never provoke one lightly. Yet now, the tiger demon's formidable physique was shredded by the sword wheel. Its sharp claws were bathed in blood; had it not reacted with keen alertness, they might have been severed on the spot. Spurred by excruciating pain, the tiger demon went wild. Even its roars warped with fury. Roaring madly, its aura spiked as a colossal shadow materialized behind it—a gigantic tiger towering several fathoms high, glaring down at Qin Sang with overwhelming pressure. At this sight, Qin Sang felt no alarm, only a thrill of mounting excitement. The stronger the tiger demon, the greater the pressure it applied, and the better it served as a crucible for his tempering. *Boom!* The sword wheel erupted, clashing violently against the tiger shadow. Qin Sang relied solely on his sword arts to duel the beast, immersing himself entirely in the fight. The battle generated immense commotion, raging from the island all the way into the sea. To Qin Sang's disappointment, however, the tiger demon possessed no stronger divine abilities beyond that massive demonic phantom. *Bang!* The demonic phantom shattered beneath the sword wheel. Letting out a piteous whine, the tiger demon spun around to flee. Just as Qin Sang prepared to give chase with his sword, he seemed to sense something. He snapped his head toward the north, a faint unease prickling his heart. Deciding instantly, he recalled his spiritual sword and released the Star Conch. *Pfft!* The tiger demon perished instantly. Qin Sang swept up the carcass, burst into three-colored escape light, and fled without hesitation into the distance. Moments after his departure, fierce gales swept across the sea. A figure flickered through the crashing waves before landing on the island. Surveying the devastated terrain, the newcomer let out a cold snort. The figure bore a human form with a beast's tail—a Transformation stage great demon! "What remarkable speed in escape arts; no wonder they dared run wild here! Eh? This aura! Could the intelligence have been mistaken? It wasn't a human cultivator, but some shameless old fellow bullying the junior generation?" The great demon's nostrils flared. Looking toward the direction in which Qin Sang had fled, uncertainty flickered across its expression, and it ultimately chose not to pursue. By then, Qin Sang had already changed direction several times, fleeing far into the distance. Over the past few days, he had sensed an unusual tension in the air, suspecting he had acted too boldly of late and stayed in these waters for too long, drawing the attention of the demon race. "A Transformation stage great demon dispatched in person... I've truly been discovered. It seems I can't stay nearby; I had better move to a more distant sea..." Qin Sang murmured to himself. If a Transformation stage demon cornered him, it would spell catastrophe. Finding a secluded spot, he swiftly butchered the demon carcass and continued his journey south.